POS0078-HPR INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL FEATURES IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSED WITH SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Authors: M. O. Tüfekçi, S. Buran, A. Akdoğan, E. Ünal
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare chronic rheumatic disease that causes heterogeneous clinical symptoms with involvement of the skin and internal organs. SSc causes chronic pain and fatigue in the musculoskeletal system as well as many emotional and psychological disorders that affect their functionality. Therefore, it has been reported that evaluation of biopsychosocial characteristics may be important in the disease management of these individuals (1, 2). <h3>Objectives</h3> The aim of this study was to investigate the role of biopsychosocial characteristics in disease management of individuals with SSc. <h3>Methods</h3> The study included 71 individuals who are diagnosed with SSc, and their demographic information was recorded. The Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BETY-BQ) is used in individuals with rheumatism as a scale developed on individuals with rheumatologic diseases and can evaluate the individual holistically. The BETY-BQ has a content that provides biopsychosocial measurement with the subheadings of pain, functionality, emotional status, sociability, sexuality, and sleep quality. Biopsychosocial characteristics of individuals were evaluated with the BETY-BQ [3]. Correlation coefficients and statistical significance were analyzed using "Spearman" correlation test. <h3>Results</h3> The mean age of the individuals included in the study was 50.38 ± 12.39 years. The median value of the BETY-BQ was 52 (min: 0 max: 112) and the median values of the sub-headings were as follows; pain 10 (min: 0 max: 20), functionality 12 (min: 0 max: 35), emotional status 16 (min: 0 max: 40), sociability 4 (min: 0 max: 12), sexuality 3 (min: 0 max: 8), sleep quality 3 (min: 0 max: 4). High and very high positive correlations were found between the BETY-BQ total score and all parameters, and significant positive correlations were found between the parameters themselves (p&lt;0.005) (Table 1). <h3>Conclusion</h3> According to the results of this study, it was observed that the biopsychosocial characteristics of individuals with SSc were affected by each other. Biopsychosocial status was most affected by emotional status and least affected by sexuality. It was found that pain, functionality, and sleep quality were mostly related to emotional status; sociality was most related to pain and sexuality was most related to functionality. The effect of good emotional status of individuals with SSc on other parameters was remarkable. The results were interpreted as demonstrating the need for biopsychosocial approaches focusing on biopsychosocial effects, especially emotional status, in the disease management of individuals with SSc. <h3>References</h3> [1]Denton CP, Khanna D. Systemic sclerosis. The Lancet. 2017;390(10103):1685–99. [2]Leon L, Abasolo L, Redondo M, Perez-Nieto MA, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L, Casado MI, et al. Negative affect in systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology International. 2014;34(5):597-604. [3]Ünal E, Arin, G., Karaca, N.B., Kiraz, S., Akdoğan, A., Kalyoncu, U. ve diğerleri. Romatizmali hastalar için bir yaşam kalitesi ölçeğinin geliştirilmesi: madde havuzunun oluşturulmasi. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation. 2017;4(2). <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.